MANITOWOC – Looking at 4-year-old Alexa Ratsimeuang of Manitowoc today, it is difficult to see past her bright eyes and enormous smile. But her journey to this point has been a struggle, fighting and breaking down barriers that have afflicted her since birth.

Alexa was born with profound hearing loss, then later diagnosed with cerebral palsy and abnormal brain conditions, lissencephaly and pachygyria.

Her hearing, speech, and gross motor skills were drastically affected by the conditions. Consequently, throughout her short life, Alexa has partaken in numerous therapies and treatments to aid her development, but at the age of 3, was struggling to stand on her own.

Still, Kelly Ratsimeuang, Alexa's mother, was persistent that her child would walk. Dissatisfied with traditional therapy, she sought out alternative options for Alexa. She had heard about equine-assisted therapy, which uses a horse as a therapeutic instrument for disabled individuals.

Alexa's parents knew that it would be a struggle to afford, but were desperate to help their daughter walk. After applying for funding through Manitowoc County's children's long-term support waiver program, Alexa was denied for financial assistance.

Just as it seemed unlikely that Alexa could receive the therapy, Kelly discovered Forward Farm in Manitowoc. After reading a newspaper ad, she learned that the owner, Ginger Schinktgen, was a certified riding instructor through PATH, otherwise known as the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International, and was offering therapeutic services in Manitowoc.

Although the sessions remained a strain for the family to afford, the nearby location helped to save time and money. So, in fall 2013, Alexa began her therapy on Libby, a very special Haflinger pony. Her family prayed desperately for results.

"Doctors had said there was a possibility that Alexa would never walk, but you never give a child limitations on what she can do," Ratsimeuang said.

Improvement

Consequently, Alexa thrived in her weekly sessions and her physical improvement was nothing short of miraculous, according to her family. Each week, Alexa grew stronger. After 12 lessons over a six-week span, the 3-year-old began walking. Alexa rode throughout the fall and her family watched in amazement as her walking and coordination improved. Unfortunately, in the spring, the family was no longer able to afford the therapy on their own.

Schinktgen has noticed that in the last year, many families in Manitowoc have been experiencing financial strain in securing non-traditional therapy for special needs members. In 2013, Manitowoc County made a series of funding cuts, which included equine assisted therapy for special-needs individuals.

"There was a sharp drop in the number of families that were able to continue their routine since the cuts. Other surrounding counties still fund this type of therapy, but Manitowoc no longer does," Schinktgen said.

Fundraising

However, Schinktgen, as well as some of her riding students, understood the necessity of Alexa's therapy. Through various fundraising activities, the youth club Forward Farm Firecrackers was able to generate the revenue for a summer-long riding scholarship for Alexa. Now a vibrant, running 4-year-old, Alexa continues to grow stronger and flourish with the help of her faithful mount, Libby.

The terms equine assisted therapy or therapeutic horsemanship refer to the use of a horse or pony as a therapeutic instrument of a disabled individual. Horses have proven to be successful aides for breaking mental and emotional barriers, but they also have the potential to physically improve the conditions of some special needs patients, Schinktgen said.

Various studies have demonstrated particular progress in gross motor functions, such as walking, in cerebral palsy patients. In Alexa's case, the movement of the horse stimulates muscles that mimic the human waking motion. In turn, after those muscles were stirred, Alexa was able to control and strengthen her legs to walk. Other benefits of therapeutic horsemanship include improvements in fine and gross motor skills, core strength, balance and coordination, she said.

Alexa and her family received a helping hand to secure her therapy. However, not all special needs children in Manitowoc County are so lucky. With the current standing of the county, it is unfortunate that others, who could potentially benefit from this type of therapy, may never get the opportunity to do so, Schinktgen said.

To some children, such as Alexa, equine assisted therapy can open locked doors, but without the support of the county, we are putting premature limitations on special-needs children in Manitowoc, she said.

In addition to offering equine assisted therapy, Forward Farm offers large lesson and day camp programs, as well as hosts the youth club, Forward Farm Firecrackers.

For more information about Forward Farm or equine assisted therapy, visit www.forwardfarm.com or www.pathintl.org.